Open railroad car



March 3, 1964 v H. F. KNIG ETAL 3,123,017

OPEN RAILROAD CAR Filed Nov. 27, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 G) Pff c@ l v\ v b O MQVENTOR.

March 3, 1964 H. F. KNIG ETAL 3,123,017

OPEN RAILROAD CAR Filed Nov. 27, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR March 3, 1964 H. F. KNIG ETAL 3,123,017

OPEN RAILROAD CAR Filed Nov. 27, 1959 6 Sheets-Shee'l'I 3 IN VEN TOR.

March 3, 1954 H. F. KNIG ETAL 3,123,017

OPEN RAILROAD CAR Filed Nov. 27, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 March 3, 1964 H. F. KNIG ETAL 3,123,017

OPEN RAILROAD CAR Filed Nov. 27, 1959 y 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 50 IN VEN TOR.

March 3, 1964 H. F. KNIG ETAL OPEN RAILROAD CAR 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed NOV. 27, 1959 INVENTOR.

United States Patent O M 3,I23,017 @PEN RAILROAD CAR Helmut F. Knig, Minden, Westphalia, and Christian E. Stiefel, Aachen, Germany, assignors to Waggonfabrilr Talbot, Aachen, Germany Filed Nov. 27, 1959, Ser. No. $55,588

Claims priorit application Germany Dec. 4, 1958 I2 Claims. (Ci. 165-262) The present application relates to an open railroad car with flat bottom and tiltable car box. More speciiically, the present invention concerns a so-called O-car with a so-called self-discharging O-box for pourable goods.

Heretofore, cars of the above mentioned type were built as hat bottom laterally tiltable cars in which the entire lateral wall formed a single part or gate. These laterally tiltable cars can, however, be employed economically in connection with bunker installations only where the load can be discharged promptly. When discharging the load only partially as for instance upon a smaller vehicle, or when discharging the load in a continuous manner upon a conveyor belt, considerable drawbacks are encountered with such hat bottom laterally tiltable cars. Gne of these drawbacks consists in that the load in the form of pourable material does not flow continuously but drops very quickly onto the respective conveyor belt or vehicle. Therefore, a precise partial unloading of the railroad car and loading of the vehicle is not possible. If a. plurality of flaps or gates are provided, it is necessary for purposes of completely discharging the railroad car, several times to displace the conveyor belt or vehicle to be loaded. The location of the lower discharge edge which for unloading the goods onto the conveyor belt therebelow should remain in the same position as far as possible, will change during the tilting process in conformity with the position of the car. Furthermore, with these known laterally tiltable cars, a direct discharge between the rails is not possible.

In an eort to remedy this situation, railroad cars have been developed with a load receiving container composed of two pivotally interconnected tiltable car sections which rest directly upon the axles of the car and which can be discharged between the rails. Cars of this type are suitable primarily for pourable goods, and the opening of the container is effected by a guiding roller associated therewith which moves onto a guiding rail separate from the car, whereas the closing operation is aided by springs. Such cars can, however, be discharged only at correspondingly provided stations and are poorly suitable for bulk pieces, inasmuch as the loading and unloading will have to be effected from above.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention, to provide an open railroad car which will overcome the above mentioned drawbacks.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an open railroad car with flat bottom which will make possible the discharge of pourable goods therefrom in a uniform flow to either side or simultaneously to both sides without changing the discharge opening in the bottom of the car box.

It is another object of this invention to provide an open railroad car of the above mentioned type which can be operated easily and quickly at a high degree of edciency.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention Will appear more clearly from the following specication in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a view of an open railroad freight car according to the invention in which the box sections are tilted about a common axis, the upwardly tilted position of said box sections being shown in dot-dash lines.

3,l23,l'l Patented Mar. 3, 1954 ICC FIG. 1a illustrates a central horizontal longitudinal section through the two box sections with the ends of the box sections broken away.

FIG. 2 is a View of an open railroad freight car in which the box sections are tiltable about a common axis at the upper edge of the boxes, the upwardly tilted position being shown in dot-dash lines.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a View of an open railroad freight car the box sections of which are tiltable about an axis at the bottom of the boxes, while the upwardly tilted box sections are shown in dot-dash lines.

FIG. 5 is a view of an open railroad freight car in which the box sections are tilted about an axis at the upper box edge while the upwardly tilted box sections are shown in dot-dash lines.

FIG. 6 is a view of an open railroad freight car in which the box sections are tiltable about separate axes approximately in the middle of the height of the boxes, the upwardly tilted box sections being shown in dot-dash lines.

FIG. 7 is a view of an open railroad freight car in which the box sections are tiltable one after another about two separate tilting axes, the box sections in upwardly tilted position being shown in dot-dash lines.

FIG. 8 is a View of an open railroad freight car in which the box sections are tiltable by means of a toothed segment, the upwardly tilted position of the box sections being indicated by dot-dash lines.

FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 respectively illustrate in View an open railroad freight car in which the box sections are tiltable about an axis at the bottom of the boxes, the upwardly tilted position of the box sections being indicated by dot-dash lines.

FIG. 11a represents a central longitudinal section through a shaking chute in FIGS. 2, 6, 18, 20, 21, 22 and 23 for discharging the box sections.

FIG. 11b is a cross section through the shaking chute according to FIG. 11a with the opening position of the bottom gate shown in dot-dash lines.

FIG. 12 illustrates a central cross section through an open railroad freight car according to FIGS. 9, 1l, 15 and 16 with unilaterally adjustable chutes.

FIG. 13 is a side view of a chute of an open railroad freight car according to FIGS. 2, 6, 9, 11, l5 and i6 in which the chute can be adjusted on both sides.

FIG. 13a is a cross section through the chute according to FIG. 13.

FIG. 14 is a central cross section through an open railroad freight car according to FIGS. 9, 11, 15 and 16 with the chute adjustable at both sides.

FIG. 15 represents an open railroad freight car in side View, in which each box section has hinged thereto a door wing which remains closed when the box sections are in their upwardly tilted position indicated by dot-dash lines.

FIG. 16 shows an open railroad freight car in side View in which each box section has hinged thereto a door wing which occupies its open position when the box sections are tilted upwardly as indicated by dot-dash lines.

FIG. 17 is a side View of an open railroad freight car with unilaterally upwardly tilted tbox sections.

FIG. 17a is a perspective illustration of the same freight car las shown in FIG. 17 with both box sections in upwardly tilted position.

FIG. 17b is a section along the line 1'7b-17b of FIG. 17.

FIG. 17C is a section along the line 17e- 17e of FIG. 17e.

FIG. 17d is a perspective view of the round slide closure of the open railroad freight car according to FIG. 17 with a bottom gate adapted unilaterally to be tilted upwardly.

FIG. 17e is a section along the line 17e-17e of FIG. 17.

FlG. 18 is a central cross section through an open railroad freight car according to FIGS. l to 11 and 15 to 17 with a shakable chute with shaking motor.

FIG. 19 represents an open railroad freight car in side view in which each of the 'box sections is tiltable about an axis at the bottom of the box, the upwardly tilted position of the box sections being shown in dot-dash lines.

FIG. 20 shows a central cross section of the open railroad freight car according to FIG. 19 with a shakable chute inclined downwardly toward the right.

FIG. 21 illustrates a central cross section through the open railroad freight car according to FIG. 19 with leftwardly and downwardly inclined shakable chutes.

FlG. 22 shows a central cross section through an open railroad freight car according to FlG. 19 with two shakable chutes hinged to the central portion of the freight car.

FIG. 23 illustrates a central cross section through a freight car according to FIG. 19 with shaking motor directly connected to the bottom gate.

General Arrangement in order to overcome the above outlined drawbacks of heretofore known open railroad cars with tiltable car box, the railroad car according to the present invention is provided with box sections which are adapted by means of hydraulically operable pistons or the like to tilt either about a stationary shaft common to said sections and arranged substantially in the central portion of the car, or about separate shafts. In this connection each box section may be provided with revolving doors, While in the central portion of the car the understructure is provided with a discharge opening. When in travelling condition, the car has an appearance similar to open railroad cars as employed in international traflic, for instance design UIC, type 2, and similar to these known types of railroad cars, has a straight bottom spaced by the customary distance from the upper edges of the rails and is furthermore equipped with vertical or slightly inclined side walls or end walls. The side walls are provided with revolving doors, while the end Walls may be designed as flaps or gates for tiltable discharge of the car. These cars are also termed central self-discharger.

if the cars according to the present invention have the common tilting shaft arranged at the upper box edge, the box sections may be provided with tiltable guiding chutes or the like. When lifting the box ends either individually or both box ends simultaneously, the pourable goods will flow to the center of the car. Prior to or during the start of the lifting operation of the box sections, the discharge opening is released so that the pourable goods will be able to flow therethrough in a steady ow. Adjustable chutes or the like may be provided below said discharge opening. Furthermore, conveying means as for instance a conveyor belt, a shaker conveyor trough, or a conveyor worm or the like, may be arranged below said discharge opening.

lf the car is to be employed primarily as a fast discharging lateral or bottom discharger, the car may be equipped with a fixed saddle or tiltable saddle bottom which at random may be tilted toward the center or toward the side. Similarly, it is possible so to design the said conveying means that a discharge of the goods from the car will be possible to either side or simultaneously to both sides or also between the rails. When providing the car with separate tilting shafts, it is advantageous to arrange revolving doors, therebetween. For purposes of controlling the discharge of the pourable goods, rotatable slides or adjustable bottom plates may be arranged between the tiltable shafts.

The central bottom opening may, depending on the type of the discharge opening, be covered smoothly or iiush by longitudinal or transverse flaps. If the tilting shafts or axles are arranged at the upper edge or nearly 4 at half the height of the box sections, the box sections may be provided with tiltable central bottom portions adapted to be rested on abutments on the understructure. In certain circumstances, it is also advantageous to arrange each box section so that it can be tilted about two different turning points. Instead of tilting the box sections about tilting axles, the box sections may also be provided with gear segments toward the central Vportion of the car and may be journalled on toothed cams on the understructure. closed by means of a bottom flap journalled on both sides of the understructure and adapted to be lowered and displaced or alternately to be tilted. It is also possible to ciose the discharge opening by means of two bottom iiaps journalled in the central portion of the car or laterally on the understructure. In special instances, one box section or both box sections may be designed so that they can be displaced outwardly prior to the tilting operation in order to obtain a corresponding discharge opening. If two separate tilting shafts are provided for the two box sections, the pivots of the revolving doors may be ixedly connected with the understructure at the central portion of the car.

The box sections will then during the tilting thereof slide by the inner door surface so that the door will at the same time prevent the goods from prematurely being discharged toward the side. instead of this design, it is also possible to hinge one wing each of the revolving door to each box section. The wing will then, following the discharge of the goods within the range of the door, be tilted open prior to lifting the box sections. In order to prevent a premature outflow of the goods from the door opening toward the side, tiltable flaps may be arranged at the longitudinal beam of the car.

To assure a uniformly owing discharge iiow correspending to the feeding output of the conveyor belt or the like, it is advisable below the discharge opening to pro vide a controllable shaker adapted to discharge to oneor both sides of the car. Such an arrangement will make it possible quickly and steadily to discharge the car to' either side or to both sides simultaneously without the necessity of adjusting the discharge opening of the box bottom. With such an arrangement it is likewise not necessary to actuate slides or fiaps which might be pro- Y vided in the box bottom. The shaker which may for instance be elastically connected to the car understructure, may be provided with a shaker motor of any standard type; such shaker motor will be tiltably arranged in order to be able to operate toward one of the other side. However, it is also possible to arrange the shaker trough below the discharge opening in a detachable manner, ie., V

in a portable manner while the shaker motor may be iixedly connected to the shaker trough.

If desired, there may be arranged below the discharge opening a multi-part shaker trough which may be jour#4 nalled in rubber at the car understructure or may be suspended on chains. Such a shaker trough may comprise two lateral walls and an intermediate bottom flap. With such an arrangement, the shaker motor is xedly arranged between the lateral walls. The above mentioned bottom flap which at the same time closes the discharge opening, may be journalled between said side walls in such a way that it can be lowered toward one or the other side for eifecting a discharge oi the goods. In order to be able to move the two box sections in their tilting position sufficiently close to each other, which is necessary for instance when employing very narrow conveyor belts, the lateral walls of said box sections are above the car center correspondingly inclined in upward direction.

Structural Arrangement The open railroad freight car according to the inven tion comprises for instance two wheel axles l and 2 whichl 1n customary manner are mounted onY the understructureY The discharge opening may also bel 3. The car boxes are composed of two box sections 4, 5 wmch are tiltable transverse to the longitudinal axis of the car toward the center of the car. The said tiltable box sections 4, 5 are, with the Various embodiments, tiltable about one or more tilting axes which may be arranged at dilerent portions of the car. The box seetions ma for instance, be tilted by means of hydraulically operable piston 7, a cylinder being connected to the understructure 3 while the telescopically designed piston pertaining to said cylinder is linked to the car box.

According to the embodiment shown in FIG. l, the box sections 4, 5 are tiltable about a common tilting axis which is located approximately in the middle of the height of the car box, the walls of the box sections 4 are in conformity with FIG. la located in the overlapping range with the wall of the box section 5 bctween the latter which with a corresponding design have a concentrically arranged circular-shaped end sealing surface 9. lnasmuch as the box sections can he tilted individually or also together, various large discharging widths will be obtained according to the measurement a with a box section 4 tiltable unilaterally only or according to the measurement b with the box sections tilted on both sides. Each box section may be provided with doors S having double wings. Such a car is particularly advantageous without additional devices such as chutes, troughs, conveyor belts, slides, etc. for a quick discharge of the contents from the bottom of the car. When employing adjustable chutes 11, 12 according to FIG. 12, the freight car may selectively be employed as bottom or side loader or quick unloading.

With the embodiment according to FIG. 2, the two box sections 4, 5 likewise have a common tilting axis 6 which, however, is mounted at the upper edge of the box sections. Also with this arrangement, each box section 4 and 5 may be provided with doors 8. Additional bottom gates are not necessary with this embodiment. When tilting the box sections, -a discharge opening is formed between their lower inner bottom edges. The width of this discharge opening varies with the tilting angle. Special sheet metal pieces 13 tiltably linked to the lower inner bottom edges guide the outowing goods into a chute 14 below the discharge opening. In conformity with FlG. 13, this chute 14 may feed toward one or the other side.

The embodiment according to FIG. 3 provides a separate tilting ame l5 and `16 respectively for each box section 4, 5. The box sections move between the pillars 17 ixedly connecting to the understsucture, in which pillars there may be arranged doors 8. Ahead of the discharge opening it) there are provided round slides or valves i8 which close off the discharge of the loaded goods from the car or control the discharge during the discharging phase, said discharge being guided by short guiding sheet metal plates. These round slides may be sub-divided in transverse direction of the car in such a way that the lateral and possibly present central longitudinal girders can be designed without sub-division. The bottom opening over the round slide 1S in the understructure ma for purposes of loading piece goods in a horizontal plane, be covered by bottom gates. These bottom gates, which are located in the longitudinal direction of the carriage and are tiltable about a longitudinal shaft journalled on the xed door posts are resting against the door posts or doors during the loading of pourable goods. By means of correspondingly arranged conveying devices and chutes or screens 14, the car will have universal use.

According to FIG. 4, which shows an embodiment according to which the tilting axles and 16 for the box Isections 4, 5 are likewise separated from each other. The bottom gates 2l may also be larranged transverse to the longitudinal direction of the cars. The said bottom gat may for purposes of discharging the box be tilted downwardly to such an extent that they permit the dis- 6 charge of the goods in conformity with the width of a conveyor belt 22 arranged therebelow by means of which the goods may then be moved away laterally. Also with this arrangement, adjust-able chutes 14 according to llG. 13 may be employed.

According to the arrangement of FIG. 5, the two separated tilting axles l5, i6 are mounted at the upper edge of the box sections 4, 5. When tilting the box sections, immediately a discharge gap opens up in the box bottom in the central portion of the car, through which gap the goods may be discharged. With this arrangement, the discharge gap 19 becomes so great that also coarsegrained material which has the tendency to build bridges can be discharged in an unirnpeded manner for instance onto a saddle chute 14a with a central saddle extending in the longitudinal direction of the car by means of which the unloaded goods are conveyed to the side or the car. By providing adjustable chutes in conformity with itl-IGS. l2 and 13, the carriage may selectively be employed as -bottom or side unloader for quick unloading.

With the embodiment according to FIG. 6, the iixed tilting axles 15, 16 are `arranged approximately at half the height of the boxes. At the lower inner edges of the bottom of the box sections 4, 5 there are provided bottom gates 23 which are tiltable downwardly about a shaft Z4 extending transverse to the longitudinal axis of the oar land being tiltable downwardly until they rest upon adjustable abutments 25. ln this way, when tilting the box sections 4, 5 there will remain an almost constant discharge gap between the bottom gates. The bottom gates 23, depending on the tilting inclination of the bott ms of the box sections, form with the latter a variable angle. Below the opening gap there may for instance be arranged an adjustable chute `14 by means of which the goods may pour to one or the other side.

lFIG. 7 illustrates a further embodiment according to which the box sections 4, 5 are tiltable not only about the two tilting axles 15, 16 but also about the tilting axles 26, 27. At the start of the tilting operation, the box sections 4 and 5 tilt `about the tilting axles 15, 16 at the points A up to the position I, while the tilting axles 26, 27 move from the position B to the position D where they get locked. During this operation, immediately a discharge opening l@ ot the width C forms in the central portion of the car. When the tilting or the box sections is carried out further into the position ll, the box sections tilt about the tilting axles 25, 27 which remain at the point D while the tilting axles l5, lo move from A to 'E. With this last movement, the discharge opening lil remains unchanged. An additional bottom gate will not be required. This arrangement is particularly suitable for moving a conveying device 2,2 below the car as shown in FIG. 4. Fixed guiding plates 13a will guide the goods to the conveyor.

FlG. 8 illustrates that instead of tilting axles, also toothed roller cams 26 may be employed. To this end, the box sections 4, 5 are provided with toothed cam e e ments 22a while straight legs 2817 are connected to the understructure. By shaping the cam elements 23a in a certain way, the width and the height of the discharge opening lil may be varied. Also lin this instance, no separate bottom gates are required.

A further embodiment is illustrated in HG. 9. According to the freight ear illustrated in this figure, a portion 29 of the box bottom in the central portion of the car is arranged between the tilting axles 15,` lo in such a way that the said portion 429 is adapted prior to the :tilting of the box sections 4, 5 to be lowered somewhat and then to be pushed Iin longitudinal direction of the car below the bottom, for instance the box section 5. The width of the discharge opening 16 may, depending on the size of the displacement, be adapted to the type of the loaded goods, Below the discharge opening l0 there may be arranged a chute 14 or the like.

lFIG. 10 illustrates a modication according to which the car is so designed that prior to the tilting of the box sections 4, 5, which may be tilted individually or together, one box section, for instance box section 5, may be displaced outwardly by a distance 3d, whereby the discharge opening 1i? will be formed. The displacement 30 ma depending on the type of the loaded goods, be selected of different magnitude. As will be evident from FIG. 10, the tilting axle lo is displaced together with the box section S, whereas the tilting axle 1S of the box section 4 remains unchanged.

`With the embodiment according to FG. 11, a discharge opening lil of a certain non-variable size is provided between the tilting axles 15, 16 in the central portion of the car. The said discharge opening 1h is adapted to be closed by a gate 3l. This gate may be tiltable between lateral walls 32 toward one or the other side of the car as illustrated in EEG. 14. Of course, if desired, the gate 31 may be so designed that a discharging operation may be possible toward both sides of the car or between the rails as indicated in RG. 12.

FIGS. 11a1 and 11b illustrate an embodiment of the invention for the arrangement of a tiltable bottom gate 3d with a shaking device arranged therebelow for the discharge or" pourable material toward one side of the car. The bottom gate 3l is rotatably Yjournalled on the tilting axle 16 of the box section S and by means of the hand lever may be tilted downwardly into the position shown in dash lines in PEG. 11b. The power transmission between the bottom gate 31 and the hand lever 4S is eEected yby means of a link 70 which is tiltably journalled on gate The said link 743 is linked to a short lever arm 71 which together with the hand lever 45 is iixedly mounted on a shaft 73 rotatably journalled in the understructure of the car. The short lever arm 71 and the hand lever l5 thus by means of shaft 73 form an angle lever which is rigid in itself. Fixedly connected to the understructure of the car `3 are for instance two angle rails 7d in which the shaking chute 36 is elastically suspended, for instance by means of a rubber -buier 7S. The chute 36 has connected thereto a shaking motor 37 in a manner known per se. On that side of the discharge opening which is opposite to the bearing side of the bottom gate 31, there is on the understructure 3 tiltably suspended a guiding plate This guiding plate similar to the tiltable bottom gate 31 serves for guiding the loaded goods being discharged into the shaker chute 36 which latter guides the goods by means of the shaking motor 37 toward one side of the om, in view of the fact that said chtite 36 is suspended on the understructure 3 so as to be able to shake.

FIG. 12 shows a further embodiment for the bottom gate 31. which as will be evident from the drawings, may also be composed of two parts. The two parts 11 and 12 of the bottom gate may be designed as adjustable chutes which may be tiltably linked either to the central portion of the car as shown in solid lines in PIG. 12 or the adjustable chutes 11 and `12.2, may, as indicated by dotdash lines, tiltably be suspended on both longitudinal sides of the car. With the rst embodiment, a discharge toward both sides will be possible -whereas with the last mentioned embodiment, a discharge between the rails may be effected.

The shaker chute illustrated in FIGS. `13 and 13a simultaneously forms when occupying its upper position the closure of the discharge opening 1t) of the car box. The chute 3% is in a manner known per se and similar to the arrangement of FIGS. 11a and 11115 arranged between walls i7 mounted on the understructure 3 ata distance corresponding to the width of the discharge opening and is supported by supports 43. These supports 48 are adapted to press the chute upwardly or to lower the same at random by -means of angle levers 7 6, 77 and shaft 718 through the intervention of piston 79 which is displaceable in a cylinder 49, t). As will be evident from FIG. 13, such an actuating mechanism for the chute `39 is provided at each end of the chute, i.e at each longitudinal side of the'car. In this way, it is possible to lower the `chute 39 whenever desired either toward one or the other side of the car. For purposes of closing the discharge opening, both ends of the chute 39 are lifted. Mounted on chute 39 is a shaking motor 37 which shakes the chute and, depending on the inclination of the chute, thereby causes the loaded goods to move to one or the other side of the car.

As will be evident from FIG. 14, instead of the chutes 39, there may also be provided simple bottom gates 31 depending on the type of the loaded goods. These bottom gates 31 may be tiltable toward one or the other side of the car, For purposes of lowering the bottom gates 31, there may for instance be provided an actuating mechanism as it is illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 13a. -ln this connection two bottom gates 31 may be arranged adjacent to each other of which each one is tiltable toward one side of the car only. However, if desired, only one bottom gate 31 may be provided which selectively may be lowered toward one or the other side of the car. i

While with the heretofore known embodiments, the door posts 17 are xedly connected to the understructure 3, according to FIGS. 15 and 16 each box section 4, 5 has connected thereto a door wing 33, 34. When tilting the box sections around the tilting axles 15, 16, the door wings may either remain in their tilted out position or according to FIG. 16 may have been previously tilted into their open position. closing position, the box walls of the car and the doors may slide by each other when tilting the box sections 4, 5 so that they will not be located in one and the same plane. lf the box walls and doors are supposed to be located in one and the same plane, the door wings 33 must remain tilted open, and a tiltable gate 35 must ybe provided within the range of the door so that a premature pouring out of the loaded goods from the door opening will be avoided. Following the outow of the loaded goods within the range of the door wings 8, the latter will be tilted open prior to tilting the box sections 14, 5. The tiltable gate l is moved from its horizontal position into its vertical position in front of the door opening. With both embodiments according to `FIGS. `15 and 16 there is provided a discharge opening it) below which several chutes may be mounted.

The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 17 and 17a of an open railroad `freight car with flat bottom and with box sections tiltable toward the central portion of the car transverse to the longitudinal axis of the car consists primarily of the understructure 3 and the box sections 4 and 5 of which in FIG. 17 the box section 4 is tilted, whereas in FIG. 17a both box sections are tilted. For tilting the box sections 4, '5 there is provided a telescopic piston 7 which, however, does not form a part of the present Vinvention. iFixedly connected to the understructure there are door posts 17 having turnably hinged thereto the doors 8. Below the discharge opeming which for instance may be closed by means of a round slide 13, there is arranged a chute 14 below which there may be provided for instance a conveyor 2.2. In order to be able to increase the tilting angle of the box sections '4, E, the box sections may have slanted corners 43 and 44 whereby simultaneously a narrow discharge opening |will be made possible -between the axles which are likewise closely arranged adjacent to each other. The remaining structure of the open railroad freight car corresponds to the well known structures cusn tomary with railroad freight cars. Inasmuch as this does not form a part or the present invention, no further discussion thereof appears to be necessary.

FIG. 17b illustrates that the door wing 8a of a structure known per se is tiltably connected to the door post 17 which is lixedly connected to the understructure 3. In contrast thereto, the box section 5 is tiltably connected to the understructure 3.

FIGS. 17C and 17d illustrate the journalling of the box When the door wings are tilted into theirV sections d, by means of tilting axles 1S, 16 on the understructure 3 and also illustrate the arrangement of a round slide 18 known per se between the tilting axles 15, 16 below the discharge opening 10. The round slide 18 is turnable about the tilting axle Si) journalled in the understructure 3, and more specifically, may be moved from its closing position into the position shown in dot-dash lines in FIG. 17. When such movement is effected, slide 18 moves through a slot Si in one side of the upper portion of chute 14. Slide 13 is adjustable for instance by means of a link system known per se. Such link system may consist for instance of a link linked to an end face 86 of slide 13. Link 82 is pivotally connected to a short lever arm S3 which is ixedly mounted on a shaft 84. To both ends of shaft 84 there is respectively connected a hand lever 3S, one of which only is illustrated in FIG. 17d. By means of this link system it is possible to turn slide 18. The chute 14 mounted below the discharge opening l@ and having slide 18 movable therein guides the loaded goods to the transporting device 22 which is shown in FIG. 17 and partially shown in FIG. 17a below the car. FIG. 17e` illustrates adjustable partitions 50 and 51 which may be so adjusted that selectively the loaded goods may be transported to one or the other side of the car.

According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 18, the shaking device below the discharge opening is represented by a shaking chute 36 having connected thereto a shaking motor 37. This shaking chute 36 may be movable on the understructure 3 of the car or may be freely movable and may at any time prior to the discharging operation be moved below the discharge opening 10,

FiGS. 19, 2O and 21 illustrate further embodiments of the shaking device. A chute 35 extending over the entire width of the discharge opening 10 is suspended on chains or journalled in rubber and has a shaking motor 37 connected thereto which latter shakes the chute. Between the walls of the shaking chute 36 there is arranged a bottom gate 39 which is adapted to close the discharge opening 1G while the car is in motion. T he said bottom gate 39 is adapted at one end to be lowered during the discharging operation until it is engaged by bolts 42 which are mounted on the side walls. The other end of said bottom gate 39 remains journalled in bearings on the understructure 3. The shaking chute 36 may selectively be lowered to one or the other side of the car.

As illustrated in FIG. 22, there also exists the possibility of closing the discharge opening 10 by two bottom gates 4t), 41 which are mounted between the side walls of the chute 36. The said bottom gates 4d, 41 may be lowered either individually or together for unloading the car toward both sides.

According to a further embodiment of the shaking chute according to FIG. 23, the bottom gate 39 extends all the way through, and the shaking motor 3'7 is directly connected to gate 39. This gate when occupying its open position, is similar to the gates 4i?, 41 held by bolts 42 which are mounted between the side walls of chute 36 and serve as abutment.

It is, of course, to be understood that the present invention is, by no means, limited to the particular constructions shown in the drawings but also comprises any modications within the scope of the appended claims.

What we claim is:

l. In an open railroad freight car: a car box having a flat bottom and comprising two box sections tiltable toward the central portion of said car and about an axis transverse to the longitudial axis thereof for receiving goods to be transported, an understructure supporting said car box and having an opening at least approximately in the middle portion of the bottom of said understructure, shaft means supported by said car and tiltably supporting said box sections for selective tilting movement of said box sections about said shaft means from a substantially horizontal loading position into a tilted position for releasing goods from said box sections through said opening, a central wall section fixed to said understructure on at least one side and slidably engaging the sides of said box sections at the inner ends of the box sections, and door means pivotally mounted in said wall section, the inner ends of said box sections being spaced so opening of the door means will give access to the space between the inner ends of the box sections.

2. In an open railroad freight car: a car box having a flat bottom and comprising two box sections for receiving goods to be transported and arranged in alignment having open inner ends facing each other and spaced apart, an understructure supporting said car box and having an opening at least approximately in the middle portion of the bottom of said understructure, two shafts supported by said car and respectively tiltably supporting said box sections for selective tilting movement of said box sections about said shafts from a substantially horizontal loading position into a tilted position to release goods from said box sections through said opening, central side wall sections lixed to said understructure and extending vertically therefrom and slidably engaging the sides of the inner ends of the box sections, and doors pivotally mounted on said side wall sections to give access to the space between the inner ends of said box sections.

3. A railroad freight car according to claim 2, in which said doors are arranged between said shafts.

4. In an open railroad freight car: a car box having a at bottom and comprising a plurality of box sections for receiving goods to be transported and arranged in alignment having open inner ends facing each other and spaced apart, an understructure supporting said car box and having an opening at least approximately in the middle portion of the bottom of said understructure, shaft means supported by said car and tiltably supporting said box sections for selective tilting movement of said box sections about said shaft means from a substantially horizontal loading position into a tilted position for releasing goods from said box sections through said opening, central side wall sections fixed to said understructure and extending vertically therefrom and slidably engaging the sides of the inner ends of the box sections, doors pivotally mounted on said side wall sections to give access to the space between the inner ends of said box sections, and displaceable flap means arranged on the underneath side of the understructure and near said opening to cover the same substantially liush with the bottom of said box sections when the latter are in loading position.

5. In an open railroad freight car: a car box having a flat bottom and comprising two box sections for receiving goods to be transported and arranged in alignment having open inner ends facing each other and spaced apart, an understructure supporting said car box and having an opening at least approximately in the middle portion of the bottom of said understructure, two shafts supported by said car and respectively tiltably supporting said box sections for selective tilting movement of said box sections about said shafts from a substantially horizontal loading position into a tilted position to release goods from said box sections through said opening, central side wall sections fixed to said understructure and extending vertically therefrom and slidably engaging the sides of the inner ends of the box sections, doors pivotally mounted on said side wall sections to give access to the space between the inner ends of said box sections, the inner ends of said box sections being provided with gates adapted to be opened into said opening when said box sections are in tilted position, and abutment means near said opening for abutment with said gates to hold the same at a desired angle with regard to the horizontal plane.

6. In an open railroad freight car: a car box having a iiat bottom and comprising a plurality of box sections for receiving goods to be transported and arranged in alignment having open inner ends facing each other and spaced apart, an understructure supporting said car box and having an opening at least approximately in the middle portion of the bottom of said understructure, shaft means supported by said car and tiltably supporting said box sections for selective tilting movement of said box sections about said shaft means from a substantially horizontal loading position into a tilted position for releasing goods from said box sections through said opening, central side wall sections fixed to said understructure and extending vertically therefrom and slidably engaging the sides of the inner ends of the box sections, doors pivotally mounted on said side wall sections to give access to the space between the inner ends of said box sections and two flaps carried by the understructure and arranged at said opening and movable selectively downwardly into said opening, said flaps being selectively movable into position for closing said opening.

7. in an open railroad freight car: a car box having a iat bottom and comprising a plurality of box sections for receiving goods to be transported, an understructure supporting said car box and having an opening at least approximately in the middle portion of said understructure, shaft means supported by said car and tiltably supporting said box sections for selective tilting movement of said box sections about said shaft means from a substantially horizontal loading position into a tilted position for releasing goods from said box sections through said opening, and doors respectively pivotally mounted on said box sections.

8. in an open railroad freight car: a car box having a fiat bottom and comprising a pair of box sections for receiving goods to be transported and arranged in alignment having open inner ends facing each other, an understructure supporting said car box and having an opening at least approximately in the middle portion of the bottom of said understructure, a shaft supported by said car and common to said box sections and tiltably supporting the same for selectively tilting said two box sections about said shaft to release goods from said box sections through said opening, and central side wall sections fixed to said understructure and extending vertically therefrom and slidably engaging the sides of the inner ends of the box sections.

9. A railroad freight car according to claim 8, in which the box sections have those ends thereof which face each other provided with chute means projecting from the inner ends thereof adapted to extend into said opening when said box sections are in tilted position.

10. In an open railroad freight car: a car box having a dat bottom and comprising two box sections for receiving goods to be transported and arranged in alignment and having open inner ends facing each other, an understructure supporting said box sections and having an opening in the region of the middle portion of the bottom thereof, central upright side Wall sections on said understructure, two pivot shafts for said box sections near the upper inner ends thereof, means including said pivot shafts, respectively, detachably tiltably supporting said box sections on said side wall sections for selective tilting movement of said box sections about said pivot shafts from a substantially horizontal loading position into a predetermined rst tilted position, the bottom wall of said box sections closing the said opening in said understructure when the box sections are in horizontal position and exposing said opening when said box sections are i2 in said rst tilted position thereof, said side wall sections slidably engaging the sides of the inner ends of said box sections and having doors pivotally mounted thereon, and an additional pair of shafts spaced from said pivot shafts and located near the lower inner ends of said box sections and adapted for pivotally connecting said box sections to said understructure and becoming effective automatically as pivot shafts for the box sections when theV latter reach said rst tilted position, said means including said pivot shafts becoming ineffective for pivotally supporting said box sections when said pair of shafts serve as pivot shafts for the box sections.

1l. In an open railroad freight car: a car box having a flat bottom and comprising a plurality of box sections for receiving goods to be transported and arranged inV alignment having open inner ends facing each other, an under-structure supporting said car box and having an opening at least approximately in the middle portion of the bottom of said understructure, support means tiltably supporting said box sections for selective tilting move-V ment of said box sections from a substantially horizontal loading position into a tilted position for releasing goods from said box sections through said opening, and central side wall sections fixed to said understructure and extending vertically therefrom and slidably engaging the sides of the inner ends of the box sections, and said support means including gear means connected to each of the respective box sections and rack means on said supporting understructure in meshing engagement with said gear means.

l2. In an open railroad freight car: a car box having a flat bottom and comprising a plurality of box sections for receiving goods to be transported and arranged in alignment having open inner ends facing each other, anV

understructure supporting said car box and having an opening at least approximately in the middle portion of the bottom of said understructure, shaft means supported by said car and tiltably supporting said box sections for selective tilting movement of said box sections about said shaft means from a substantially horizontal loading position into a tilted position for releasing goods from said box sections through said opening, and means slidably supporting one of said shaft means for movement longitudinally of said understructure whereby at least one of said box sections is displaceable in longitudinal direction on said superstructure outwardly from the other said box section prior to the tilting thereof.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 393,009 Heathcock Nov. 20, 1888 612,053 Penn et al. Oct. 1'1, 1898 725,095 Kreutler Apr. 14, 1903 746,555 Morey Dec. 8, 1903 780,446 Richardson Jan. 17, 1905 867,726 Henvis et al. Oct. 8, 1907 895,783 OKelly Aug. 11, 1908V 955,875 Hunt Apr. 26, 1910 973,210 Rakowsky Oct. 1S, 1910 1,272,425 Guthrie July 16, 1918 Y 1,311,140 Tait July 22, 1919 2,534,558 Ottenbacher Dec. 19, 1950 3,019,949 Allard Feb. 26, 1962 

1. IN AN OPEN RAILROAD FREIGHT CAR: A CAR BOX HAVING A FLAT BOTTOM AND COMPRISING TWO BOX SECTIONS TILTABLE TOWARD THE CENTRAL PORTION OF SAID CAR AND ABOUT AN AXIS TRANSVERSE TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS THEREOF FOR RECEIVING GOODS TO BE TRANSPORTED, AN UNDERSTRUCTURE SUPPORTING SAID CAR BOX AND HAVING AN OPENING AT LEAST APPROXIMATELY IN THE MIDDLE PORTION OF THE BOTTOM OF SAID UNDERSTRUCTURE, SHAFT MEANS SUPPORTED BY SAID CAR AND TILTABLY SUPPORTING SAID BOX SECTIONS FOR SELECTIVE TILTING MOVEMENT OF SAID BOX SECTIONS ABOUT SAID SHAFT MEANS FROM A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL LOADING POSITION INTO A TILTED POSITION FOR RELEASING GOODS FROM SAID BOX SECTIONS THROUGH SAID OPENING, A CENTRAL WALL SECTION FIXED TO SAID UNDERSTRUCTURE ON AT LEAST ONE SIDE AND SLIDABLY ENGAGING THE SIDES OF SAID BOX SECTIONS AT THE INNER ENDS OF THE BOX SECTIONS, AND DOOR MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED IN SAID WALL SECTION, THE INNER ENDS OF SAID BOX SECTIONS BEING SPACED SO OPENING OF THE DOOR MEANS WILL GIVE ACCESS TO THE SPACE BETWEEN THE INNER ENDS OF THE BOX SECTIONS. 